Housekeepers at the Hotel Commonwealth in Boston’s Kenmore Square have reached an agreement with hotel management that will ease 
the workload of housekeepers who attend to rooms with kitchenettes. Housekeepers at the hotel—which overlooks Fenway Park—are members of Boston’s UNITE HERE Local 26.
The union has negotiated contracts with 28 Boston-area hotels. The contracts provide protections for housekeepers to ensure that workload doesn’t lead to pain and injuries.
According to a 2006 survey of housekeepers by UNITE HERE, 91% of housekeepers surveyed said they experience workplace pain. Additional amenities are heralded by hotel guests, but can pose potential threats to housekeepers who race to do more in less time. The hotel, managed by Sage Hospitality, installed rooms with kitchenettes to better serve hotel guests who wish to cook.
Union leaders requested bargaining and the hotel came to an agreement that will allow housekeepers to be assigned less rooms if they need to clean a kitchenette room that has had a guest check-out. Housekeepers will clean the same number of rooms during days where a guest stays over. Housekeepers report that this will give them the time needed to thoroughly clean and sanitize the kitchens.
Strong East Boston: Vote Joe Ruggiero March 3
“I will be a strong voice for hotel and food service workers,” Ruggiero said. “I will fight to make sure you have a living wage and good benefits.”
Ruggiero has the endorsement of many unions and Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh. “Joe Ruggiero has a vision for an East Boston that is strong and healthy,” said Local 26 President Brian Lang. “Our members in East Boston share that vision.”
March 1-31: Open Enrollment for Hotel Health Plan
Open Enrollment runs March 1-31. Carefully read the packet of information you receive, complete the form and mail it to the Fund.
Changes you can make during Open Enrollment include:
Video: 2014 year in review
2014 was a great year for Boston’s hotel and food service workers. Some of our victories and campaigns in this 4-minute video.
2015 wage and benefits allocation meeting
Our program to maintain quality and affordable healthcare, to improve our ability to retire with dignity, and to have the best wage increases in history is on track.
This affects the majority of members in hotels, the Convention centers, MIT, the Boston Globe.
Housekeepers, Hotel Commonwealth agree to changes to keep work and rooms safe
Housekeepers at the Hotel Commonwealth in Boston’s Kenmore Square have reached an agreement with hotel management that will ease
the workload of housekeepers who attend to rooms with kitchenettes. Housekeepers at the hotel—which overlooks Fenway Park—are members of Boston’s UNITE HERE Local 26.
The union has negotiated contracts with 28 Boston-area hotels. The contracts provide protections for housekeepers to ensure that workload doesn’t lead to pain and injuries.
According to a 2006 survey of housekeepers by UNITE HERE, 91% of housekeepers surveyed said they experience workplace pain. Additional amenities are heralded by hotel guests, but can pose potential threats to housekeepers who race to do more in less time. The hotel, managed by Sage Hospitality, installed rooms with kitchenettes to better serve hotel guests who wish to cook.
Union leaders requested bargaining and the hotel came to an agreement that will allow housekeepers to be assigned less rooms if they need to clean a kitchenette room that has had a guest check-out. Housekeepers will clean the same number of rooms during days where a guest stays over. Housekeepers report that this will give them the time needed to thoroughly clean and sanitize the kitchens.